Thousands honor veterans at Memorial Day ceremonies in Coastal Bend

George Gongora/Special to the Caller-Times
Hundreds of people attend a Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Seaside Memorial Park.

CORPUS CHRISTI - Frances Garcia flies the American and Marine Corps flags year-round in the front yard of her Driscoll home.

The Blue Star Mother does so in honor of her son, Lance Cpl. Ricardo Garcia, with Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines.

She also waves a 40-year-old hope of news of her cousin, Army Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo M. Garcia, whom she named her son after.

Ricardo M. Garcia was declared MIA in 1971 after his Army assault helicopter was shot down over jungle-covered mountains in Laos during the Vietnam War.

"He was more like a brother than a cousin," she said. "We were raised in the same household."

Garcia and thousands across the Coastal Bend honored fallen military personnel Monday during Memorial Day ceremonies.

Several hundred people crowded around Sherrill Park for a morning remembrance.

Ruth Casanova said she has participated in the ceremony at Sherrill Park since the 1970s, when she was about 10 years old.

Behind Casanova, her mother, Maria Trejo, wore a button with a photo of Casanova's brother, Jose Manuel Trejo, who was killed in February 1969 in Vietnam. The 1968 West Oso High School alumnus died about six weeks after he completed boot camp, Casanova said.

"It's important to remember the sacrifices," she said.

About 1,400 people also honored veteransduring a ceremony at Seaside Memorial Park, which included a Fallen Heroes Memorial featuring more than 25 sketched portraits of Coastal Bend veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

"It's a commendment you have for these people," memorial artist and founder Arnold Gonzales said.

The portraits have been displayed during the past three years across the area including at Corpus Christi International Airport as well as in Kingsville, Robstown and Rockport.

Gonzales served about two years on active duty in the Navy and four years in the reserves as Petty Officer 3rd Class. The former state representative and city councilman said the sacrifices of veterans should be remembered year-round.

"We cannot forget," he said.

Adalberto Palacios, Petty Officer 3rd Class who served in Vietnam, said Monday helped him remember the liberties that he and others sacrificed for America's freedom.

"It's also therapy in a way," said Palacios, who serves on the honor team at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.

Palacios, a construction electrician in the Navy Seabees, helped build runways, refineries, roads and buildings for the Marines during two tours between 1967 and 1969.

Palacios, who had siblings who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, said he's recalled neighbors who were killed in combat.